WEEK SIX: MINGLE

[cluedin]

WEEK SIX

OCCUPANCY: . . .

Rise and shine, little monsters. A new week is waiting just for you. The events of yesterday may have been hard to stomach, but time heals all wounds, after all. The damages the house has incurred over the last week have been reverted and the staff is hard at work fulfilling their roles in this mansion. A piping hot breakfast is served in the dining room promptly at 7am, every square inch of floor and furniture has been cleaned spotless, and Pumpkin is...probably around tending to the animals outside. As you exit your rooms on this lovely morning...

...a silence lays over the house.

For anyone who ventures into the ballroom, a new change may become apparent. Should you choose to look at the plaques, those of the dead have gone blank. The images that were once there have been covered, though the information is still there.

Additionally, the house rules have been removed.

Odd, isn't it? Where are those strange effects you've grown accustom to over the last several weeks in this house? Your body is as it should be (except for those of you who have lost limbs...you know who you are...), your mind is sound and stable, and there are no strange urges or instincts arising within you.

The mansion is in prime condition. All of the rooms (except for Master Blue's and the servants' quarters) are unlocked, and nothing seems out of place. Perhaps you'll have a chance to relax this morning?

Well, it was nice while it lasted anyway. Come Monday at noon a rustling crackle of static can be heard from overhead. Try as you might, you won't be able to find the speakers but a message will play loud and clear for all.

---

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Comments

[goldpeony]

Mostly. [His shoulders hunch slightly. He's not running, okay! He's here, for now.] I showed Kuji Toi and Agatsuma Zenitsu, too.

[Since, like, the letter was for them also. He opens his mouth, then shuts it in favor of standing there awkwardly.]

[constellates]

[she also opens her mouth to say something - before she notices his awkward standing]

.... I have very much to say to you.

Первый. But you can go first, if you want.

[goldpeony]

[He looks away with his eyes, turning his head. It takes him a moment to get up the nerve, and he's still embarrassed regardless. He does not look at her when he says any of this!]

...Sorry. We weren't fast enough. We got behind because I... [He shakes his head.] We should have tried harder.

[constellates]

[she's going to try to peer at his expression anyway.....

before he finishes up and she pauses before shaking her head, then she'll reach out. she won't try to outright grab his hand this time, but she'll try to rest her own ghosty hand atop his.]

... Because you were brave, and saved dogs. And dogs helped us, or else would have been much harder to fight.

Благонамеренные. I know. You would have done more to help me, if you could, because you always do your best.

Do not say sorry. In this language, or your own. [she was naturally determined enough to decode his letter] I will learn it - to make sure you cannot be sorry for that again.

[goldpeony]

[He looks at her hand and then quickly up at her, lips thinning.] No. I won't accept that. I have to try harder. [To be better. (Thanks, shitty Uncle Jiang.)]

I can't be... I can't be a good sect leader if I'm not better. Everyone will depend on me.

[He drops his arms down, and then raises them again, a fist in a palm. And, like Ayabe, he bows to her, head down.]

Sorry for not trying harder. [For a lot of things.] Sorry for saying I didn't want to remember.

[constellates]

[ . . . . oh no.

she's so surprised at the bow - before she looks like she almost wants to cry. she wants to reach out to him to get him to rise - but that's not going to work. so instead she'll just move to kneel in front of him, reaching her hand out so that she can reach out a hand - if she was solid, she would try to get his chin to raise.

but she's not, so her hand will go through. she only wants to be eye to eye with him.]

Jin Ling... Face me please.

[goldpeony]

[bowing was a mistake

From his ears to his nose, he turns red as a tomato. He straightens almost immediately when she swings into view, dropping his arms, his shoulders rigid.] St-stop that! [Don't KNEEL. AAA.]

Stand up!

[constellates]

[god she wishes she wasn't sad about what he said so she could enjoy this :/

but she can't!! at least he's straightening up though and she laughs a little, brushing herself off just out of habit before stepping closer to him.]

I do not like when you lower yourself to me.

[though her expression melts into one of fondness now that that nonsense is over]

... but I like the way you always try to do better. Ностальгический. It... reminds me of someone important.

So... if you want to try harder, or do better, or remember.... I would like all of those things. If you want to hear 'I forgive you' - then I will say... but I do not think I need to. Because I never thought badly of you.

[goldpeony]

[perish

Please do not look at him fondly. Girls don't even look at him much less look at him fondly. He will expire from this plane of existence, goodbye. There's no reason for her and Ayabe to be giving him the same treatment.]

I don't want to hear that, so don't say it! [Even though, like, it's the thought that really counts.] Just say what you want to say and get it over with.

[He's suffering.]

[constellates]

Okay, will not say it.

[EASILY, but she's going to giggle a little bit before nodding.]

You have to listen, and you cannot run after.

Oбещание? Promise?

[she's perfectly innocent and he has no reason to be afraid]

[goldpeony]

[Don't giggle. Don't do anything. Don't even be a girl, doing girl things like giggling. Cease.

Offended, his shoulders go stiff, and he gives her an indignant look. Now he knows it's going to be something stupid and embarrassing! He's going to want to run away!]

Fine. [A pause.] I promise.

[constellates]

[yea but he PROMISED, so now he cant run away. because she just looks very pleased at that, humming a happy note at his agreement]

... when you said you did not want to remember - I was sad. Недостойный. I thought 'ah... person I want to be friends with does not want to know me.' I thought... I should be better, so you would want to know me, like I want to know you.

But before I could... I was gone. So.. even with letter to Zenitsu, I did not ask him to reach you - because I did not think you wanted to talk to me. When I got your letter... [she'll let both of her hands come to rest over her heart] Окрыленный. It made me so happy.

I am sorry too - for not trying harder to reach you. I like the person you are now, and I will like the person you are when you get better and better. Всегда. I will always like you, and remember you - because you are you.

[a beat]

Did not know how to say that in emoji - so I want to tell you now.

[goldpeony]

[Oh nooooooooooo, gross, feelings. He holds both hands up as if to say STOP, but he doesn't speak, and his face again turns the color of a beet.

He's horrified. For, like, a lot of reasons not entirely her fault. He does not, however, run away! As much as he really wants to do that.]

That... That isn't true! I made--a mistake. I didn't... [He's just garbage, he knows. At showing and saying. At everything.] I didn't want to... remember anyone because... I can't remember my parents.

I didn't... want to remember anyone if we'd just leave at the end. I ran away, and then you... Forget it.

[constellates]

Not forgetting - that is point.

[gently, because she's NOT going to forget it. though she looks thoughtful at that, understanding a little bit more now, before tilting her head]

Then even if we leave at end - поиск. I will find you again. So you do not have to have only memories of people you cannot see again.

[is this even possible? she doesn't know.

does she care?

not at all.]

[goldpeony]

[Sadly, he's a realist. And also a butthole like his dad.]

What...? Don't say that. Don't make promises like that. [He sounds firm, not quite yelling.] You don't know that, so don't say it.

You back home.

[constellates]

[she hums softly at that, a little understanding of what he means]

... If others can go home with different people - I want to believe there is way for it to not be impossible to see each other again.

[and maybe that hope will end up hurting later - but she'll hold onto it anyway.]

Even if you do not believe... Попытаться. I will try.

But... even if not possible, still have a week together.

[that's her compromise??? somehow??]

[goldpeony]

[you didn't tell me i missed a whole ass word even after i gave you a chance to edit before anna will remember this]

Why? Why does it matter? [what's a friend] You can just go home where you belong. Everyone else should, too.

[constellates]

[i decided to take my chances

anyway, jin ling needs to stop asking anya why questions because she'll just repond, for the second time today, to a different loser boy]

Because I like you.

And I do not want to say goodbye again.

[goldpeony]

[closes my eyes slowly

Why is Anya like this. Please, I'm begging you. He's garbage. (bernie voice) i'm here asking you once again to stop liking garbage boys.]

What...? [Bewildered, his face turns red again on instinct. Will it stop being read any time during this thread? We just don't know.] The way I treated you... Aren't you angry? You said I made you sad!

[constellates]

[there is

a small amount of truth that anya just likes seeing jin ling's face red. she thinks it's cute. she will never voice this out loud until she's really sure it'll kill him, because she is kind of painfully playful.

but it's fine, she's still sincere.]

That is true but... Счастливее. You make me happy, more than you make me sad. The more I know you, I think that will be true.

I do not mind way you treat me before— [hmmm wait, she'll reassess] Mm... well, I would like you to run less.

Улучшение. But if you want to treat me better, I would like that too.

[sHAMELESS]

[goldpeony]

[How in the WORLD can this girl say these things just, like, so easily? He doesn't understand. Uncle Jiang is his uncle, and Uncle Jiang has never once uttered words like this. He's not even sure if his parents would if they were alive. Wild. Bizarre.

His mouth opens, and then closes several times as he tries to figure out what to say in the face of something so blunt.]

I... [He swallows the awkwardness.] I'll do better. I can do better. I won't... run away.

[constellates]

[she has a language barrier and a history of loneliness, which means that she has no time or desire to mince the words that she does have in order to express her feelings to people -

... but she, unfortunately, looks very pleased with just that. she gives him a smile as she automatically steps closer, her hand outstretched to him, palm up. she's a ghostie, but it doesn't really stop her from trying.]

I would like that. Chasing is tiring.

Название. And... maybe selfish, but I want to hear you say my name too.

[as far as she knows, he's called her 'Anya' twice. once as she was dying, when she could barely place that it was him, and another time in a trial when he didn't know she was paying attention.

she'd like to hear it directly.]

[goldpeony]

[Wow, he absolutely won't look at her when she gets closer, not until she raises her hand. And then he's just staring at it. If the ground is ever going to open up and pull him into the Underworld, he wishes it would right now.]

Stop.

[Teasing him about running. It was a valid reaction at the time. Warily, he watches her hand, and then he reluctantly lifts his... holding the arm up in front of him and the palm facing her. They aren't even going to be able to feel anything. His face gets red anyway.] Anastasia. [He says this so quickly and easily, it's almost like he has refused.

And then, quieter:] ...Anya.

[constellates]

[wow.

she didn't think he'd do it.

it's similar to how she didn't expect him to ever write her a letter - and so receiving one managed to unexpectedly delight her. this is feeling just like it. anya asks very much of people, sometimes teasingly, sometimes sincerely, because she places her hope rather recklessly. she's shameless about what she wants, and requesting it with the words she has.

but still - she'll move so that her palm rests against his, even if her hand is a bit smaller, so that if she were solid - they would be touching. when he says her name, her expression melts into something hopelessly fond and touched. she almost looks a little bit embarrassed too.]

... Спасибо. Thank you, Jin Ling.

Maybe I will ask you to call me Nastenka next.

[she's teasing, don't do it]

[goldpeony]

[His hand isn't huge by any means, but it's bigger than hers. He can't sense her hand at all, but it feels like he can. So he only holds his hand there long enough to blush before he quickly drops his arm by his side again in embarrassment. Awful!]

..."Nastenka"? [He butchers it, that's fine.] Is that... your courtesy name?

[Since she was always way too fucking amped about trying to get him to call her Anya, that definitely has to be her given name, not a formality. But he was thinking Anastasia was the formality, not... an entirely new name. Maybe he was wrong.

Since, you know, Rulan is nothing like Ling.]